Mandrel construction



April 5, 1966 G. c. BAUER 3,244,379

MANDREL CONSTRUCTION Filed OC'IL. 21, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. GAP/1L0 c. 5/1052 ATTOPA/EVS April 5, 1966 G. c. BAUER 3,244,379

' MANDREL CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 21 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 -INVENTOR. GAP/4L0 C BAUAUQ BY 1 .Z/W/ZWfiM W April 5, 1966 s. c. BAUER 3,244,379

MANDREL CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 21 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet s i I I i 059410 (li 522 72 47 BY 9 ZJMMQM/EMWW% ATTOP/VH S April 5, 1966 G. c. BAUER 3,244,379

MANDHEL CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 21 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. 659/110 6 BAUH? United States Patent 3,244,379; MANDREL CGNSTRUCTION Gerald C. Bauer, Portage Township, Kalamazoo County, Mich, assignor to Celiu-Kote, Zinc, Schoolcraft, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Filed Oct. 21, 1963, Ser. No. 317,549 12 Claims. (Cl. 242-721) This invention relates to a mandrel including an expanding head and, more specifically, relates to a mandrel having a head with a smooth and essentially continuous outer surface when expanded.

The embodiment of the invention herein disclosed was developed to fill a need for an expanding mandrel capable of fully supporting the circumference of a cylindrical and rims of the type for which this embodiment of the invention was developed are disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 261,941 and now Patent No. 3,195,- 426; It will be seen, however, that the mandrel construction embodying the invention will be useable in fields other than paper container forming and might, for example, be used as an inside chuck for thin walled Workpieces or as a drum support'in a reeling or winding machine.

Previous mandrels have generally not' completely satisfied the needs above described because of the lack of a continuous expanded surface, an inability to act as a die part or excessive complexity. Furthermore, previous constructions have often not been readily adaptable to either single or mass actuation or have been unable to withstand the particular forces imposed thereon in the container assembling operation which led to the development of the present invention.

Hence, the objects of this invention include:

(I) Toprovide a mandrel with an expanding mandrel head which has a smooth and essentially continuous cylindrical peripheral surface when in its expanded state.

(2) To provide a mandrel construction, as aforesaid, which is particularly adapted to firmly and uniformly grip a paper or fiber container of relatively light gauge material and including a die surface for afiixing a metal bottom sheet or rim of the type described in my copending application Serial No. 261,941 to said container.

(3) To provide a mandrel construction, as aforesaid, capable of withstandingheavy axial loads, having no projections above the upper surface of the work-engaging jaws, capable of positively radially supporting a relatively weak paper cylinder against radially inward loads without deforming said cylinder, and capable of frictionlly assisting the holding of said cylinder against axial loads.

(4) To provide a mandrel construction, as aforesaid,

wherein any one of several detachable sleeves of different diameters may be used'alternatively to provide a wide range of effective outside diameters for the same expandable mandrel head so that several workpiece diameters may be accommodated without replacing the rest of the mandrel head.

(5) To provide a mandrel construction, as aforesaid,

including a mandrel body having means whereby a variety of workpiece heights may be accommodated by one such body.

(6) Toprovide a mandrel construction, as aforesaid, wherein a single mandrel head may be used with a plurality of different size mandrel bodies and with segmented sleeves of different diameters to accommodate a wide range of workpiece sizes.

(7) To provide a mandrel construction, as aforesaid, which is particularly adapted to support circular cylinders but which may be adapted to support a wide variety of other cross-sectional shapes !by varying the peripheral shape of the sleeves and mandrel body.

(8) To provide a mandrel construction, as aforesaid, having a mandrel head actuatable by a single unidirectional motion such as that of a conventional pressure fluid cylinder and adapted for single use or for use in an automated line including several such mandrel constructions.

(9-) To provide a mandrel construction, as aforesaid, which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, requires a minimum of special parts, wherein the single size of mandrel head required makes possible mass production economies even in a limited market, wherein the sleeve segments and mandrel bodies are simple and inexpensive to manufacture in a variety of sizes, have no moving parts, and are preferably of single-piece construction.

(10) To provide a mandrel construction, as aforesaid,

particularly adapted to use in the field for assembling.

knocked-down fiber containers, which may be operated by inexperienced personnel, which is capable of maintaining effective diameter within close tolerances over long periods of use, which is easily maintained and requires little or no maintenance, which requires relatively inexpensive parts and has a long service life.

(11) To provide a mandrel construction, as aforesaid, which can be used in conjunction with a resiliently supported base for resiliently supporting the container so that axially directed forces applied on the container will be absorbed by movement of the base to' thereby avoid crinkling of the sidewall of the container.

Other objects and purposes of this invention will be apparent to persons acquainted with this type of device upon reading the following. specification and inspecting the accompanyingdrawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the mandrel construction embodying the invention and showing the mandrel head in an expanded condition.

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 and shows the mandrel head thereof in a contracted position.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of one of the small jaws of the mandrel head embodying theinvention and shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of one of the large jaws of the mandrel head embodying the invention and shown in FIGURE 1. 7

FIGURE 5 is a top view of the mandrel head of FIG- URE 1- with the cover sheet on one of the large jaws removed.

FIGURE 6 is a central sectional view taken essentially along the line VI-VI of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of the cross-head of the mandrel head of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 11 is a fragment of FIGURE with an enlarged set of sleeve segments mounted on the mandrel head.

FIGURE 12 is a sectional view taken on the line XII- XII of FIGURE 6.

General descriptionv In general, the invention contemplates providing a mandrel construction having a generally cylindrical body member having means attached thereto for supporting the lower end of a container. For thin-walled, relatively weak containers the base for supporting the lowered end of the containers must be resiliently mounted for axial movement when axially directed forces are to be applied to the upper end of the containers so as to prevent such forces from folding or crinkling the side wall of the container. For containers having stronger walls and capable of withstanding such forces, the base can be fixed against axial movement. A mandrel head is mounted on top of the mandrel body and includes a support block fixed to the upper end of said mandrel body. A draw bar, engaged at the lower end thereof by any convenient activating means such a a pressure fluid cylinder, extends slidably through said mandrel body and said support block and supports a crosshead at the upper end thereof. The support block has guide means therein for allowing radial movement of an opposed pair of large jaws and an opposed pair of small jaws which are actuatable radially through bounded paths by coacting ramp surfaces thereon and on the crosshead. Return means, such as springs, return the jaws inwardly upon retraction of the support block whereby the small jaws are essentially surrounded by the large jaws. When in its expanded position, the peripheral surface of the mandrel head is essentially unbroken. The peripheral surface of each of the jaws is composed of a removable sleeve segment which contacts the workpiece and which segments may be interchanged with those of a different sized sleeve to allow use of the mandrel construction with a different diameter workpiece.

Detailed description Certain terminology will be used in the following discussions for purposes of convenience in reference only and is not intended to be limiting. The terms upwardly and downwardly will refer to themandrel construction and parts thereof in its normal position of use as shown in FIGURE 6. The terms rightwardly and leftwardly cifically mentioned above, derivatives thereof and words of similar import.

Turning now to the drawings, and referring more specifically to FIGURE 6, the mandrel 19 embodying the invention is here secured upon a base 11 of any convenient type by screws, one of which is indicated at 12. Support means 13 is secured to the mandrel for engaging the lower edge of a cylindrical container indicated in broken lines at 14. The container 14 surrounds the mandrel body 16 and also surrounds the expandable mandrel head 17 which is afiixed to the top of said mandrel body. The mandrel head 17 is actuatable by a draw bar 18 as described in greater detail hereinbelow.

The mandrel body 16 is preferably an elongated cylinder having a bottom 21 and a top part 22 of a reduced external diameter. In the particular embodiment shown in the drawings, the mandrel body 16 and mandrel head 17 describe circular cylinders but it will be understood that other cross-sectional shapes are contemplated.

The mandrel head 17 includes a support block 26 having a downwardly facing shoulder 27 resting on the top edge of the mandrel body 16 and defined by the reduced diameter of the bottom part of the support block 26. Said bottom part of the support block 26 is snugly piloted within the top 22 of the mandrel body 16 and is removably held therein by any convenient means, such as the screws 28. The support block 26 has a generally cross-shaped recess 29 centrally located in the upper surface thereof.

The support block 26 has a vertical central opening 31 therethr-ough having fixed therein a bushing 32. The bottom 21 of the mandrel body 16 has a vertical central opening 33 therein containing a bushing 34 coaxial with the bushing 32 in the support block 26. The draw bar 18 is vertically slidable within the bushings 32 and 34 and the lower end thereof passes downwardly through a coaxial annular pilot ring 36 fixed to the base 11 by screws 37 for positively locating the mandrel 10 on the surface of the base 11. The draw bar 18 further passes downwardly through a coaxial opening 41 in the base 11. The lower end of the draw bar 18 is threaded at 42 for receiving a nut 43 and lock nut 44 which upon contacting the lower surface of the base 11 provide a positive upper limit to the travel of the draw bar 18. The lower extremity of the draw bar 18 is connected by any convenient means such as the linkage schematically indicated at 46 to means such as a pressure fiuid cylinder 47. The cylinder 47 moves the draw bar 18 upwardly and at least allows downward movement thereof as required. The cylinder 47 is, however, preferably such that fiuid pressure supplied to the lower end thereof raises the draw bar 18 and the draw bar is moved downwardly by a spring (not shown) inside of the cylinder.

The upper end of the draw bar 18 is of reduced diameter to provide a shoulder 51 and has a coaxial threaded opening 52 the-rein. A generally cross-shaped crosshead 53 (FIGURE 10) has a central opening 54 (FIGURE 6) therethrough for reception thereinto of the top portion of the draw bar 18 whereby the lower surface of the crosshead 53 rests upon the shoulder 51. The crosshead 53 has a recess 56 in the upper surface thereof coaxial with the central opening 5-4 for reception thereinto of a suitable screw 57 and washer 58, said screw 57 threadedly engaging the threaded opening 52 in the jaw body 18 whereby the crosshead 53 is rigidly atfixed to the draw bar 18. The peripheral configuration of the crosshead 53 is such that it will fit snugly within, but without contacting the side walls of, the recess 29 in the support block 26. Hence, the downward travel of the draw bar 18 has a lower limit established by contact of the lower part of the crosshead 53 with the bottom of the recess 29 in the support block 26.

The support block 26 slidably supports on the upper surface 60 (FIGURES 5 and 6) thereof a pair of preferably identical small jaws 61 each including a generally rectangular small (FIGURE 3) carrier 63 whose lower surface contacts said upper surface 60. The upper surface 60 also slidably supports a pair of large jaws 66 (FIG- URES 4 and 7) each including a large carrier 68 preferably generally shaped in top plan view as a chordal segment of a right circular cylinder, the lower surface of said large carrier 68 contacting upper surface 60.. The support block 26 has two pair of radially aligned, preferably rec tangular, keyways 71 (FIGURES 6, 7 and 8) extending across the upper surface 66 thereof, each of said keyways 71 being aligned with the longitudinal axis of a separate one of the lobes of the cross-shaped recess 29. Keys 72 are held in said keyways 71 by any convenient means such as countersunk screws 73 and extend above the upper urface of the support block 26.

Each of the small carriers 63 has a longitudinally aligned, downwardly open, keyway 74 in the bottom face thereof (FIGURE 3) for entrance thereinto of one of the keys 72 whereby motion of the small jaws 61 in the plane of the upper face of the support block 26 is constrained to the common longitudinal axis of an opposed pair of lobes of the cross-shaped recess 29. Each of the large carriers 68 has a keyway 76 (FIGURE 4) in the lower face thereof for entrance thereinto ofone of the remaining pair of keys 72 whereby the motion of the large jaws 66' in the plane of the upper surface of the support block 26 is constrained along the longitudinal axis of the remaining pair of opposed lobes of the cross-shaped recess 29'. Thus, the large jaws 66 are disposed on opposite sides of the draw bar 18 and the small jaws 61 are also disposed on oppositesides of the draw bar 18 Two pair of essentially rectangular tracks 78 (FIG- URES 5 and 8) are secured to the upper surface of the support block 26 by any convenient means such as the screws 79. Each of the tracks 78" is located adjacent a" separate longitudinal edge of one of the pair of small carriers 63 and has a downwardly facing shoulder 81 (FIGURE 8) for contacting a corresponding upwardly facingflshoulder 82 (FIGURE 3) on the small carrier 63 adjacent thereto whereby said small carriers 63 may move radially of the support block 26 but are constrained to remain in contact with the upper surface 60 thereof.

Each of the large carriers 68 has a pair of preferably symmetrically distributed upwardly opening recesses 86 (FIGURES 5 and 7) therein which are elongated in the direction of motion thereof. The recesses 36 each has a slightly smaller, elongated opening through the bottom face thereof and communicating with the bottom face of carrier 68. Suitable threaded openings 8-8 are provided in the upper surface 61) of the support block 26 for reception thereinto of screws 89. Said screws 89 each carries a concentric sleeve 91 tightly aligned within and slidably contacting the walls of the opening 87 in each of the large carriers 68. A washer 92 is disposed on and below the head of each screw 89 for tightly but slidably contacting the lower face of each of the recesses 86. The top of the screw 89 is preferably located below the upper surface of the carrier 68. Hence, the large carriers 68 are constrained to movement along a common diameter of the support block 26, said diameter being disposed at 90 degrees to the common axis of movement of the small carriers 63-, and are prevented from leaving the upper surface of the support block 26-.

The inner face of each of the small carriers 63 has therein, and spaced from the sideward edges thereof, a downwardly and outwardly sloping, preferably planar ramp surface 91 (FIGURES 3, 6 and 9) which in the particular embodiment shown slopes at an angle of 45 degrees to the lower surface of the said small carrier 63. The ramp 91 begins at a point slightly spaced from the upper surface thereof and extends downwardly through the lower surface of the small carrier 63'. Guides 90 and 99:: are provided on either side of the ramp 91 and these guides each have a ramp surface 92 preferably parallel to the ramp surface 91 and inwardly spaced therefrom whereby the ramp surface 92 is relatively short in comparison to the ramp surface 91. nward movement of each of the small carriers 63-along the upper face of the support block 26 will, when the draw bar 18 is in its uppermost position, shown in FIGURE 6, bring the ramp surface 91 thereof into contact with a corresponding' ramp 93 on the adjacent lobe 94 of the crosshead 53. The large'jaw contacting lobes 96 of the crosshead 53 have grooves 95 which have planar, outwardly anddownwardly sloping surfaces 97 adjacent the central portion of said crosshead S3. The guides 9 '0-and 90a extend into the grooves 95 to prevent lateral movement of the small carriers 63 withrespect to the head 53'. When the draw bar 18' is near its lowermost position and the small carriers 63 are moved inwardly as far as possible, said ramp surfaces 97 contact the small-ramp surfaces 92 on said small carriers 63 and serve as stops to prevent further inward movement of the small carriers. Thus, with the draw bar 18 in its lowermost position and the small carriers 63 in their innermost position (FIGURE 2) an upward movement of the draw bar 18 will cause the ramp surfaces 93 on the crosshead 53 to contact the ramp surface 91 on each of the small carriers 63 whereby con merit shown is a right circular cylinder.

tinued upward movement of the draw bar 18 causes said small carriers 63 to move radially outwardly. Such motion of the small carriers 63 ceases upon the contact of the nut 43 with the bottom surface of the base 11 and consequent cessation of the upward movement of the drawbar 18.

Each of the large carriers 65 has centrally located in the inner face thereof a downwardly and outwardly sloping ramp surface 98 (FIGURES 4 and 7) which may be somewhat shorter than the central surface 91 of the small carrier 63 and which extends through the bottom face of said large carrier 68. Each of the large jaw contacting lobes 96 of the crosshead 53 has a downwardly and outwardly sloping ramp surface 99 which contacts the ramp surface 98 in the corresponding large carrier 68' during the initial upward movement of the draw bar 18. Hence, the large carriers 68' are moved radially outwardly simultaneously with the small carriers 63 during the initial upward movement of the draw bar 18 and the large carriers 68 remain stationary in their outwardmost position during the latter part of the movement of the small carriers 63 caused by further movement of said draw bar 18'.

The ramp surfaces 98 are preferably at 45 degree angles to the lower faces of the large carriers 68 whereby the large jaws 66 move outwardly at the same rate as do the small jaws 61. The innermost position that the small carriers 63 may assume is determined by their abutment against one another and the innermost position which can be assumed by the larger carriers 68 determined by their abutment of the sides of the tracks 78 as shown in FIGURE 2.

Each of the small carriers 63 is provided with a removable small shell segment 161 which is affixed at the upper, outward end thereof by means of screws 102 and pins 103 (FIGURE 5). The jaw segment 101 has an inwardly extending flange 194 at the upper end thereof which rests in a corresponding notch 106 in the upper and outer edge of the small carrier 63 whereby to insure adequate rigidity of the jaw 61 comprising the jaw segment 1191 andcarrier 63. Each of the large carriers 68 has ailixed along the curved outer face thereof a large shell segment 111 (FIGURES 4 and 5) which is afiixed thereto by means of screws 112 and pins 113. The large shell segment 111 has at the upper edge thereof an inwardly directed flange 114 which lies in a suitable notch 116 in the upper and outer edge of the outer surface of the large carrier 68 whereby the rigidity of each" ofthe large jaws 66 comprised of a shell segment 111 and carrier 63 is assured. When the jaws 61 and 66 are in their outwardmost position (FIGURES l and 2), the shell segments 101 and 111 form an essentially continuous, smooth cylindrical shell which in the particular embodi- The shell segments 101 and 111 preferably have relatively thin lower portions whereby the respective adjacentouter faces 11% and 1 19 (FIGURES 6 and 7) of the support block 26 .can be extended outwardly to maximize the area of the supporting surface under the carriers 63 and 68'whereby to minimize melting of the jaws 61 and 66in-radial planes therethrough. The surfaces 113 and 119 are thus preferably shaped' in conformance with the inner faces ofthe respective jaw segments 101 and111 although said segments preferably at no time contact said surfaces 118 and 119 to minimize chances of distorting said segments.

In the preferred embodiment herein disclosed, the upper surface of the small carriers 63 is coplanar with the upper surface of the attached shell segments 101. Further, a suitable cover 109 overlies the upper surface of the large carriers 68 for covering the recesses 86 and screws 89 to prevent foreign particles from entering the mandrel head 17, the uppersurface of the cover 109 preferably being coplanar with the upper surface of the shell segments 101 and 111. The cover 109 is attached to the carrier 68 by any convenient means such as by .the small screws 111 (FIGURE 5) which are preferably countersunk therein and threaded into suitable holes 108 in the upper surface of the large carriers 68.

The embodiment of the invention herein disclosed includes an annular groove 197 in the upper face of the shell segments adjacent the circumferential wall thereof, which groove 107 forms a die part for attaching a rim or bottom to a container of the type disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 261,941.

The circumferential ends of the flanges 114 are angularly trimmed at 115 (FIGURE 4) and in the particular embodiment shown are at a 45 degree angle with the inward face of the carriers 68 for purposes appearing hereinafter.

Each of the shell segments 101 and 111 has an opening preferably essentially centrally located therein which preferably comprises an outwardly facing oval recess 121 (FIGURES 6 and 7) and an essentially keyhole-shaped opening 122 communicating between said recess 121 and I the inner face of the respective segment. Four vertical pins 123 extend upwardly from the bottom of the recess 29 in the support block 26 adjacent the opening 31 therethrough. Each of said pins 123 carries the inner end of a tension spring 124, the outer end of which is secuerd to a headed pin 126. Radial openings 125 are provided in support block 26 communicating with the recess 29 for free passage therethrough of the springs 124. Furthermore, the lower face of the crosshead 53 contains suitable troughs 128 for admittance thereinto of the springs 124 and pins 123 when the crosshead 53 is in the lower part of its range of movement whereby to prevent interference with the motion of said crosshead 53. The head of each of said headed pins 126 is positioned within one of said recesses 121 to hold said headed pin 126 against inward movement. Further, said headed pin 126 may be positioned in the recess 121 adjacent the enlarged part of the keyhole 122 whereby to move inwardly therethrough for releasing the spring 124 from its particular shell segment. Hence, in its upper position, the headed pin 126 ties the spring 124 to its respective shell segment whereby the jaws 61 and 66 are biased inwardly to rest against the corresponding ramp surfaces of the crosshead 53 A circu-mferentially upwardly facing groove 127 may be provided in the upper face of the shell comprising segment 101 and 111 adjacent the outer edge thereof for use as a die part as shown in my copending application Serial No. 261,941.

In the embodiment of the mandrel 1t) herein disclosed, the support means 13 upon which the lower edge of the container or workpiece 14 is supported comprises an annular upper ring 131. The ring 131 closely and slidably surrounds the mandrel body 16 and is resiliently supported with respect thereto by a plurality of circumferentially distributed compression springs 132 and lost motion bolts 133 which are supported by a lower, internally threaded ring 134. The lower ring 134 is threadedly connected through an annular adaptor 136 to the mandrel body 116 and threadedly supports a set screw 137 having in inwardly extending and pin-like projection 138 thereon. The projection 138 is insertable into one of a series of axially spaced holes 139 in the body member 16 whereby the abutment means 13 may be positioned vertically thereon to accept containers A of different heights.

The lower ring 134 has a radial slit 151. A bolt 152 extends through a substantially chordal opening 153 in the ring 134 on one side of the slit 151 and is threaded into an aligned threaded opening 154 on the other side of the slit. Thus, when the bolt 152 is fully tightened, the ring 134 is contracted somewhat so as to cause bind ing of its threads on the threads of adaptor 136 whereby said ring cannot move with respect to the adaptor. However, when the bolt 152 is loosened, the ring expands into a nonbinding condition at which time it can be rotated with respect to the adaptor to adjust its position.

The mandrel head 17 may be provided with an alternate set of shell segments 101a and 111a (FIGURE 11) having a different, here increased, effective diameter. Thus, the mandrel head 17 may have its effective diameter increased by changing shell segments only, said diameter change not requiring the replacement of any other mandrel head parts. Therefore, a single standardized mandrel head 17 with several sets of shell segments and several corresponding mandrel bodies 16 of matching diameters will accommodate containers of different diameters. The cost of such versatility will be relatively low in that the mandrel bodies 16 and shell segments are of simple noncritical construction compared to the relatively complex mandrel head.

The alternate set of shell segments 101a and 111a differ from the original set of segments 101 and 111 only in having an elongated neck portion 141 and in that the work-gripping surface 142 has its defining radius increased by the increased lengths of the neck portion 141. By making these specific changes to increase the effective diameter of the mandrel head 17, the internal operation of the mandrel head 17 remains unchanged.

Operation Although the operation of the device embodying the invention has been indicated somewhat above, same will be given in detail hereinbelow to give a clear understanding of the mandrel of the invention.

In the collapsed condition of the mandrel 1ft embodying the invention, the draw bar 13 is in its downwardmost position determined by the abutment of the crosshead 53 with the bottom of the recess 29 in the support block 26. Thus, the head 17 will be contacted so that the workpiece 14 may he slipped thereover and over the mandrel body 16 to rest upon the abutment means 13. The draw bar 18 is then moved upwardly, as, for example, by actuation of the pressure fluid cylinder 47, whereby the ramp surfaces 93 and 99 on the crosshead 53 respectively contact and move upwardly along the corresponding ramp surfaces 91 on the small carriers 63 and ramp surfaces 98 on the large carriers 68. Due to the aforementioned ramp surfaces and the fact that the carriers 63 and 68 are allowed to move only radially along the upper surface of the support block 26, said carriers move radially out wardly. Referring to FIGURE 2, it will be seen that in the contracted position of the mandrel head 17, the small shell segments 101 lie within and are substantially enclosed by the large shell segments 111 and that the sideward edges of the outward face of the shell segments 161 are slightly spaced inwardly, along the line of motion thereof, from the adjacent surfaces of the portions of the large shell segments 111. Also, it will be recalled that the ramps on the crosshead 53 and carriers 63 and 68 preferably cause the jaws 61 and 66 to move outwardly at the same rate. Thus, because of the particular value of the slope of the trimmed portion 115, said inward spacing of the sideward edge of the segments 101, along the line of motion thereof, from the trimmed portion 115 on the shell segment 111 remains essentially constant as the mandrel head 17' expands. Hence, there is no interference between the larger and smaller shell segments. As the upward movement of the draw bar 18 continues, the ramps 99 on the crosshead 53 (FIGURE 7) lose contact with the ramps 98 on the large carriers 68 and the outward vertical face of each of the large jaw contacting lobes 96 contacts the inward face of the corresponding large carrier 63 to maintain such large carrier 68 in its outwardmost position during the continued upward movement of the draw bar 18 despite the inward bias provided by the tension spring 124. At this point, the distance between the adjacent side faces of the large shell segments 111 is equal to the width of the small shell segments 1411. Continued upward movement of the draw bar 18 causes the ramps 93 to effect outward movement of the small jaws 61 to their outer limit. The downward movement of the draw bar 18 simply reverses the action above described with the restoring force for the jaws being supplied by the tension springs 124;

Use of the resilient. abutment means 13 allows" the workpiece 14 to withstand heavy axial loads without buckling such as the loads imposed thereupon during installation of a rim or bottom on the upper endof said workpiece or container 14. v

Although a particular preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed hereinabove for purposes of illustration, variations or modifications of such disclosure lying within the scope of: the appended claims are fully contemplated.

What is claimed is":

1. In a mandrel construction for internally holding a hollow workpiece, the combination comprising:

a cylindrical mandrel body;

a mandrel head fixed tosaid mandrel body, said mane drel head including die means in the upper portion thereof;

abutment means adjustably fixed to said mandrel body for resiliently axially supporting said workpiece thereon, said abutment means including an adaptor ring closely surrounding said mandrel body and mounted thereon for adjustment in major increments, an annular lower ring internally threaded to threadedly engage said adaptor ring for continuous axial adjustment with respect to said mandrel body and an upper annular ring axially resiliently supported and laterally located by said lower ring, the upper ring being capable of axially resiliently supporting said workpiece;

said increment and continuous adjustment enabling said abutment means to support workpieces of differing heights in a predetermined relationship with said die means on said mandrel head.

2. A mandrel construction, comprising:

a base;

a hollow stationary mandrel body mounted on said base and extending upwardly therefrom, said mandrel body having support means at its upper end;

an expandable mandrel head mounted above the upper end of said mandrel body;

said mandrel head having a plurality of radially movaable jaws spaced upwardly from said support means and cooperating guide means on said support means and said jaws for guiding radial movement of said jaws, resilient means acting between said jaws and said support means for continuously urging said jaws radially inwardly, said jaws having sloping ramp surfaces thereon;

a crosshead movable in the space between said jaws and said support means, said crosshead having sloped ramp surfaces engageable with said jaw ramp surfaces whereby movement of said crosshead in one direction will force said jaws radially outwardly and movement of said crosshead in the opposite direction will permit said jaws to move radially inwardly under the urging of said resilient means;

the upper surfaces of said jaws lying substantially within a common plane and the range of movement of said crosshead being such that when said crosshead has moved to the limit of its movement in said one direction the upper surface of said crosshead does not project substantially higher than said plane; and

means extending upwardly through said mandrel body for moving said crosshead upwardly and downwardly.

3. A mandrel construction according to claim 2, in which said jaw ramp surfaces and said crosshead ramp surfaces slope outwardly and downwardly so that upward movement of said crosshead forces said jaws radially outwardly and downward movement of said crosshead permits said jaws to move radially inwardly.

4. A mandrel construction according to claim 3, in which there are two pairs of jaws, the jaws of each pair being diametrically opposed and the jaws of one pair comprising a minor portion of the peripheral wall of the expanded mandrel and the other pair of jaws forming the remainder of'the peripheral wall of the expanded mandrel, the ramp surfaces on bothpairs of' jaws sloping. at the same angle and the ramp surfaces on said one pair of jaws being. longer than the ramp surfaces on said other pair of jaws and arranged so that both pairs of jaws move in a radial outward direction at the same rate until said other pair of' jaws are spaced apart a distance permitting said. one pair of jaws to move radially therehetween, and then said other pair of jaws stop moving and said one pair of jawsv continue to move outwardly until said jaws form said peripheral wall.

5. A mandrel construction according. to claim 4, in which said crosshead has vertical wall portions below the ramp surfaces thereof'which cooperate with the ramp surfaces of said other pair of jaws, and said other pair of jaws have vertical wall portions above the ramp surfaces thereof whereby said crosshead wall portions and said wall portions of said other pair of jaws abut to prevent inward movement of said other pair of jaws as said crosshead is approaching its uppermost position.

6. A mandrel construction according to claim 4, in which said one pair of jaws has opposed, vertical wall portions above the upper ends of the ramp surfaces thereof which wall portions are capable of abutting when said one pair of jaws are in their radially innermost positions.

7. A mandrel construction according to claim 4, in which each jaw includes a carrier and a jaw segment removably afiixed to the outer face of said carrier, each of said jaw segments comprising a partially cylindrical wall extending downwardly from the upper surface of the carrier and having an inwardly directed flange at its upper end, and means releasably afiixing said flange to said carrier.

8. A mandrel construction according to claim 2, in which said resilient means includes radially extending coil springs secured at their outer ends to said jaws and secured at their inner ends to said support means.

9. A mandrel construction according to claim 2, in which said guide means include cooperating tongue and groove means on said jaws and on said support means.

10. A mandrel construction, comprising:

a base;

a hollow stationary cylindrical mandrel body mounted on said base and extending upwardly therefrom, said mandrel body being of reduced diameter at its upper end;

an expandable mandrel head mounted above the upper end of said mandrel body, said mandrel head having a plurality of radially movable jaws each comprising a carrier having a substantially flat upper surface and a shell segment removably affixed to the outer face of said carrier, said shell segments extending downwardly from said carriers and forming a substantially cylindrical peripheral wall surrounding and axially overlapped with said upper end of said mandrel body when said mandrel head is expanded, said cylindrical wall being of at least as large a diameter as said mandrel body, said upper surfaces of said carriers being substantially coplanar;

said carriers having ramp means thereon;

actuating means extending through said mandrel body and movably upwardly and downwardly with respect thereto, said actuating means having ramp means thereon engageable with said carrier ramp means so that movement of said actuating means in one direction will force the jaws radially outwardly and movement of said actuating means in the opposite direction will permit said jaws to move radially inwardly.

11. A mandrel construction according to claim 10, in which each jaw has an upwardly opening groove therein adjacent the periphery thereof, said grooves being adapted to mate with each other when the mandrel head is expanded to form an annular recess.

i 1 12 12. A mandrel construction according to claim 2, in- References Cited by the Examiner eluding:

abutment means adjustably fixed to said mandrel body UNITED STATES PATENTS for resiliently axially supporting a workpiece thereon, 128,260 6/1872 Taylor 2792 said abutment means including an adaptor ring 5 7181700 1/1903 Crosby closely surrounding said mandrel body and mounted 1,907,396 5/ 1933 summey 242-721 thereon for adjustment in major increments, an 1,944,2 1/ 19 4 MCFall 2792 annular lower ring internally threaded t-o threadedly 2,1 7,886 7/ 1939 Graham 269--48.1 engage said adaptor ring for continuous axial adjust- 2,826,419 3/ 1958 Francis 2792 ment with respect to said mandrel body and an upp 10 2,890,053 6/ 1959 Walker 279-1 annular ring axially resiliently supported and laterally 2,957, 99 10 19 0 Dixon 279 2 located by said lower ring, the upper ring being 3 032 347 5 1952 Cambron 79 1 capable of axially resiliently supporting said work- 3,065,973 11/1962 Meifirhofer piece;

said increment and continuous adjustment enabling said 15 LESTER M. SWINGLE, Primary Examiner.

abutment means to support workpieces of dilfering heights in a predetermined relationship with said ROBERT RIORDON Exammer' jaw means on said mandrel head. H. V. STAH-LHUTH, Assistant Examiner. 

2. A MANDREL CONSTRUCTION, COMPRISING: A BASE; A HOLLOW STATIONARY MANDREL BODY MOUNTED ON SAID BASE AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY THEREFROM, SAID MANDREL BODY HAVING SUPPORT MEANS AT ITS UPPER END; AN EXPANDABLE MANDREL HEAD MOUNTED ABOVE THE UPPER END OF SAID MANDREL BODY; SAID MANDREL HEAD HAVING A PLURALITY OF RADIALLY MOVABLE JAWS SPACED UPWARDLY FROM SAID SUPPORT MEANS AND COOPERATING GUIDE MEANS ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS AND SAID JAWS FOR GUIDING RADIAL MOVEMENT OF SAID JAWS, RESILIENT MEANS ACTING BETWEEN SAID JAWS AND SAID SUPPORT MEANS FOR CONTINUOUSLY URGING SAID JAWS RADIALLY INWARDLY, SAID JAWS HAVING SLOPING RAMP SURFACES THEREON; A CROSSHEAD MOVABLE IN THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID JAWS AND SAID SUPPORT MEANS, SAID CROSSHEAD HAVING SLOPED RAMP SURFACES ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID JAW RAMP SURFACES WHEREBY MOVEMENT OF SAID CROSSHEAD IN ONE DIRECTION WILL FORCE SAID JAWS RADIALLY OUTWARDLY AND MOVEMENT OF SAID CROSSHEAD IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION WILL PERMIT SAID JAWS TO MOVE RADIALLY INWARDLY UNDER THE URGING OF SAID RESILIENT MEANS; THE UPPER SURFACES OF SAID JAWS LYING SUBSTANTIALLY WITHIN A COMMON PLANE AND THE RANGE OF MOVEMENT OF SAID CROSSHEAD BEING SUCH THAT WHEN SAID CROSSHEAD HAS MOVED TO THE LIMIT OF ITS MOVEMENT IN SAID ONE DIRECTION THE UPPER SURFACE OF SAID CROSSHEAD DOES NOT PROJECT SUBSTANTIALLY HIGHER THAN SAID PLANE; AND MEANS EXTENDING UPWARDLY THROUGH SAID MANDREL BODY FOR MOVING SAID CROSSHEAD UPWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY. 